2/13/2015 Revised ND T 191

ND T 191 – DENSITY OF SOIL IN-PLACE BY THE SAND CONE METHOD

Conduct this procedure according to ND T 191.

Consult the current edition of AASHTO for procedure in its entirety and
equipment specification details

SCOPE

This method covers the determination of the in-place density of compacted soil or
soil-aggregate mixtures. The in-place dry density is expressed as a percentage
of the soils maximum dry density and can be compared to specification
requirements.

REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

AASHTO T 19, Bulk Density (“Unit Weight”) and Voids in Aggregate

AASHTO T 191, Density of Soil In-Place by the Sand Cone Method
ND T 265 and AASHTO T 265, Laboratory Determination of Moisture
Content of Soils
ASTM D 4643, Determination of Moisture Content of Soil by the Microwave
Oven Method

APPARATUS

Sand density apparatus and base plate

Clean, free-flowing sand consisting of -No.10 +No.200
Balance, readable to 0.1 grams
Pins, shovel, trowel, spoon, hammer, and knife
Auger, 4" diameter
Sealable container

EQUIPMENT PREPARATION

Filling the apparatus

1. Place the empty apparatus upright on a firm level surface, close the valve and
fill the funnel with sand.

2. Open the valve and keep the funnel at least half full with sand during filling.
When the sand stops flowing into the apparatus, close the valve sharply and
empty the excess sand.

3. Determine and record the mass of the apparatus filled with sand (m 1 ).

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Determining the mass of sand required to fill the funnel and base plate (Cone
Correction)

1. Place the base plate on a clean, level, plane surface. Invert the sand cone
filled with sand, and seat the funnel in the recess of the base plate.

2. Open the valve fully and allow the sand to flow until the sand stops flowing.

3. Close the valve sharply, remove the apparatus, and determine the mass of
the apparatus and the remaining sand (m 2 ).

4. The mass of sand required to fill the cone and base plate is calculated by the
difference between the initial mass and final mass. Record this mass as the
cone correction:

(C c = m 1 – m 2 ).

Where:
C C = Cone correction
m 1 = Mass of the apparatus filled with sand
m 2 = Mass of the apparatus and remaining sand

Notes:

For each container/bag of sand there will be a unique cone correction and sand
calibration factor. Each sand-cone and matched base plate will also have a set
of unique cone corrections and bulk sand densities. If more than one sand-cone
apparatus is available, the sand-cone and base plate should be marked and the
associated correction/density factors recorded.

Vibration of the sand during any mass-volume determination may increase bulk
density of the sand and decrease the accuracy of the determination. Appreciable
time intervals between the bulk density determination of the sand and its use in
the field may result in change in the bulk density caused by a change in the
moisture content or effective gradation.

Determining the bulk density of sand (D B )

1. Replace the sand removed in the funnel determination according to the

procedure for filling the apparatus, close the valve, and determine the mass of
the apparatus and sand (m 3 ).

2. Position the calibration container on a clean, level, plane surface. Place the
base plate on the calibration container. Invert the apparatus and seat the
funnel in the recess of the base plate.

3. Open the valve fully and keep open until the sand stops flowing.

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4. Close the valve sharply, remove the apparatus and determine the remaining
mass of the apparatus and sand (m 4 ).

5. Calculate the mass of the sand needed to fill the container, funnel and base
plate. Subtract the final mass (Step 4), from the initial mass (Step 1).

6. The mass of the sand needed to fill the container only is determined by
subtracting the mass of the cone correction (Step 4) from the total mass
required to fill the container with the funnel and base plate (Step 5).

7. Determine the bulk density of the calibration sand (sand calibration factor).
Divide the mass of the sand needed to fill the container (Step 6), by the
volume of the calibration container as determined according to AASHTO
T 19.

D B = (m 3 – m 4 – C C )/V C

Where:
D B = Bulk density of the sand in g/cm3
m 3 = Mass of the apparatus and sand
m 4 = Remaining mass of the apparatus and the sand
C C = Cone correction
V C = Volume of the calibration container

8. Record this factor for future reference.

PROCEDURE

All information is recorded on SFN 59725 and SFN 59724.

Fill testing apparatus with sand and record the total mass.

Select the area of compacted lift to be tested. Because the surface of a

compacted area is generally loose or disturbed due to compaction operations,
remove loose material and level off an area slightly larger than the base plate.

Place the base plate over the smoothed area and fasten down with the
accompanying pins. Plate must stay in this position and be stable throughout the
test.

Dig a test hole within base plate opening, with the auger, trowel, or other tools.
Soils that are granular require extreme care and may require the digging of a
conical-shaped hole. Place all of the loosened material from the hole into an
aggregate balance pan, or a moisture-tight container if not weighed right away.

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Minimum Test Hole Volumes and Moisture Content Samples

Based on Maximum Size

Maximum Minimum Test Hole Minimum Sample Size

Particle Size Volume for Moisture Content
No. 4 (4.75 mm) 0.025 ft3 100 g
1/2" (12.5 mm) 0.050 ft3 250 g
1" (25.0 mm) 0.075 ft3 500 g
2" (50.0 mm) 0.100 ft3 1000 g

Place testing apparatus on the base plate and open valve. After the sand has
stopped flowing, close the valve; remove apparatus, and record final mass.

Weigh the wet soil or soil-aggregates removed from the hole to the nearest 0.01
lbs and record.

Use a representative portion of the soil for moisture determination. Do not use
material containing particles large enough to be retained on the No. 4 (4.75 mm)
sieve. Moisture can be determined by the use of ND T 265 or ND D 4643.
Calculate moisture to nearest 0.1%.

CALCULATIONS

Complete calculations as follows:

• (V H ) Volume of Test Hole = (Initial Mass - Final Mass - C C )/D B

Calculate the volume of test hole to the nearest 0.0001 ft3.

• (M DS ) Dry Mass of Material removed from test hole = (Moist Mass removed
from test hole/[1 + (% moisture /100)]

Calculate dry mass of material to the nearest 0.01 lbs.

• (D D ) Dry Density = M DS /V H

Calculate in-place dry density to the nearest 0.1 lbs/ft3.

CALIBRATION

All new devices should be calibrated prior to being used. A calibration check
should be performed annually as a minimum, or whenever damage or repair
occurs.

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